Beer-tapping implement



(No Model.) v

, A. KOPP. BEER TAPPING IMPLEMENT.

-N0 ."T6O8,278. 1 Patented May a, 1898.

' I A HIIIIHIMIIIHHHP; 'w w W mummllmllfl mmmwn llIflllllllw!ilI'mIHINHHINIIIIIWW Hll WI H J. I? I vAnal-nay UNITED STATES PATENT *rrrcnv 1 AUGUST KoP-P, or HAMILTON, 01110.

. [BE-ER-TAPPING I'M PLEM E'NT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,278, dated May 3, 1898.

I Application filed July 28, 1897. s rial No. 646,163. (No model.)

To all whom it may col worn- Be it known that I, AUGUST KOPP, of Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beer- Tapping Implements, of which the following is a specification. F

My invention relates to implements for use in tapping beer-kegs,"and the same will be readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an implement embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section of the same in the plane of line a, of Fig. 3; Fig. 3, an elevation of they right-hand end of the implement as it appears in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a vertical transverse section in the plane of line b ofFig. 1.; Fig. 5, a side elevation, partvertical section, of an exemplifying beer-tap, in connection with which my improved implement is of special utility; and Fig. 6, a plan of the gland 3 of the beer-tap.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the body of a beer-tap, having a taper-shank adaptedto be driven into a proper hole in a beer-keg; 2, the slide-pipe thereof, which slides through a stuffing-box in the tap-body 1; 3, the gland of the stuffing-box screwed into the body and compressing the packing; 4, the rim of the stuffing-box surrounding the gland, which is screwed into it, the gland 3 having a cross: slot, by means of which it may be turned, as seen in Fig. 6, and the gland generally projecting somewhat beyond the rim 4.

In driving the beer-tap into the hole in the beer-keg the slide-pipe is in the way. The driving is to be done on rim 4, and as gland 3 often projects above the rim it would be liable to be struck and the strikingof the gland would result in damaging the glandthreads. My improved implement provides for the ready driving and loosening of such beer-taps.

Referring further to the drawings, 5 indicates a handle adapted to fit the hand and formed of metal, preferably of cast-iron; 6, an enlargement'at one end thereof to give that end of the handle additional weight and to provide certain sockets; 7, a pair of claws 5o projecting transversely from the end of the handle opposite the enlargement, the claws being adapted to straddle sliding pipe 2 of Y the beer-tap and engage in the cross-slot of the gland; 8, a wooden plug inserted in a socket in the enlargement 7, its axis being at right angles .to the axis of handle 5; 9, an open groove extending endwise entirely through the implement and having a size adapted to loosely engage slide-pipe 2; 10, a dovetailed circular recess formed in the enlarged end of the handle; 11, a ring of soft metal held in this dovetailed recess, the groove 9 of the handle extending also through this soft-metal block, and 12 a recess formed in the soft-metal block 11 and forming a counterbore enlargement of the upper portion of groove 9, recess 12 being of such size as to cap loosely over gland 3 of the beer-tap and permit the soft-metal block to take a fair bearing on rim 4 of the stuffing-box of the beer-tap.

Assume that the beer-tap is tightly in a beer-keg and that it is to be removed therefrom and placed in anotherbeer-keg, the hole for the beer-tap in the second beer-keg being provided with a tight plug, as'usual. Claw 7 of the implement is first to be applied to the gland and the gland is to be slackened, thus permitting the slide-pipe to be withdrawn sufficiently to enable the implement to be used in the new keg, as hereinafterexplained. The body 1 is then to be struck sidewise with the implement, plug 8 acting as a mallet-face. This loosens the beer-tap and permits it to be withdrawn entirely from the old keg. The end of the shank of the beer-tap is now to be placed over the plug in the new keg and the handle is to be placed with its groove 9 around the slide-pipe, soft-metal block 11 resting on rim 4 of the beer-tap, recess 12 in the block keeping it free from the gland. The implement is now to be raised on the slide-pipe, the slide-pipe acting as a guide for it, and one or two sharp blows downward are to be given upon the beer-tap, thus driving the plug into the keg and driving the shank of the beer-tap tightly into the hole. The proper adjustment of the slide-pipe is now to 'be made, after which the gland is to again be properly tightened by means of the claw.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a beer-tapping implement, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a handle having an enlarged end formed with a dovetailed recess in its face, and asoft-metal block dovetailed in said recess and having its face forming the end extremity of said handle, said handle and block being provided with an open longitudinal groove.

I 2. In a beer-tapping implement, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a longitudinally-grooved handle provided with an enlarged end containing a socket at right angles to the axis of the handle and a socket at the end of the handle, a soft-metal block firmly seated in said last mentioned socket and grooved in prolongation of the groove in the handle, and a wooden plug firmly seated in the first-mentioned socket.

3. In abeer-tappingimplement, the combi- AUGUST KOPP.

Witnesses:

Gnonc'n WALsDoRF, FRANK P. RICHTER. 

